And then they'll have to start naming planets after mere mortals.
Someday, there will be a planet named "Bob". Near the end of the list, I think.
The Planet Bob will be an average planet in every way, with an average climate, orbiting in the center of the habitable zone. Its polar axis will be absolutely vertical. Eventually settled, its civilization won't make any ripples in galactic culture; it'll practice moderation in all things. Planet Bob will be a sensible world, and the Bobbies will wear sensible shoes and comfortable clothing. They'll pile their families into their Bobsleds for their annual two-week vacations on their sister world "Jane". Planet Bob will be famous mostly as a regional center for accounting firms and insurance underwriters. When galactic civilization periodically falls, Planet Bob will periodically be forgotten; and when stumbled upon again, totally by accident--no one will wonder "What about Bob?"--it will be found to have changed very little during the interregnum. "Good old Bob" will enter lingua galactica as a phrase signifying an almost endearing plodding dullness and reliability.
And that's why I changed my name to "Robert" many years ago. Now, "Robert's World" has a pretty nice ring to it, dontcha think? Beats "Planet Bob" any day.
Space/Science » in reply to Naming planets after gods
Someday they'll run out
